Head and Neck Surgery: ENT Surgery

ENT surgery involves conditions that require surgical intervention by an ENT surgeon, which either affect (or are within) the head and neck area. These specialists are also known as otolaryngologists or head and neck surgeons. Surgeries are often required for conditions like thyroid problems, sinus disorders, head and neck cancers, or reconstructive surgery to regain a more natural appearance.

Below are common head and neck surgery options along with conditions that usually require head or neck surgery to successfully treat them.

Head and Neck Conditions Treated with Surgery

Head and neck surgery is generally recommended for cancer affecting the nasal cavity, salivary glands, throat, lips, tonsils, larynx, and sinuses, but can also be recommended for non-cancerous conditions, including:

Thyroid Disorders, such as goiter (enlargement of the thyroid gland), thyroid nodules, and hyperthyroidism.
Chronic sinusitis or nasal polyps can sometimes require surgery, such as functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), to improve drainage and alleviate symptoms.
Recurrent or severe tonsillitis that doesn’t respond to conservative treatments may need a tonsillectomy (removal of the tonsils).
Enlarged adenoids, particularly in children, can cause breathing difficulties and recurring infections, requiring adenoidectomy (removal of the adenoids).
When obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is severe and doesn’t respond to non-surgical treatments like CPAP therapy, surgeries such as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) or maxillomandibular advancement may be recommended.

Tumors or cysts in the parotid gland may require surgical removal.
Conditions like sialolithiasis (salivary gland stones), sialadenitis (inflammation of the salivary glands), or mucoceles (mucus-filled cysts) may require head and neck surgery.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, impacted teeth, facial trauma, and other dental or jaw issues.
Chronic ear infections or complications like cholesteatoma may require surgery, such as tympanoplasty or mastoidectomy.
Non-cancerous neck masses like branchial cysts, thyroglossal duct cysts, or lymphadenopathy may require surgical removal for diagnosis or symptom relief.

Types of Neck and Head Surgical Treatments

There are a range of head and neck surgery options to relieve symptoms or treat head and neck conditions. A surgical recommendation depends on both the condition itself and the impact the surgery would have on a patient’s quality of life or if conservative treatments have failed to provide relief. Surgeons and ENT doctors, when able, choose non-surgical approaches first.

Below are the more common types of head and neck surgery recommended to patients:

Laryngectomy: Used to treat laryngeal cancer, either all or part of the larynx (voice box) is removed; these two surgeries are total laryngectomy or partial laryngectomy respectively.
Pharyngectomy: Removal of part or all of the pharynx (throat), which may be required to treat oropharyngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer.
Glossectomy: Partial or total removal of the tongue to treat cancer of the tongue.
Maxillectomy: To treat maxillary sinus cancer or cancers involving the hard palate, a surgeon may remove all or part of the upper jaw bone (maxilla).
Mandibulectomy: Removal of all or part of the mandible (lower jaw bone), typically performed to treat cancers affecting the oral cavity or lower jaw region.

Neck Dissection: The removal of lymph nodes in the neck to find how far the cancer has spread and to remove cancerous lymph nodes. Different types of neck dissections include selective neck dissection, modified radical neck dissection, and radical neck dissection.
Parotidectomy: Removing part or all of the parotid gland, usually required to treat parotid gland tumors, both benign and malignant.
Submandibular Gland Excision: Removal of the submandibular gland, which may be performed to treat submandibular gland tumors or chronic infections.
Skull Base Surgery: These are complex surgeries performed to treat cancers involving the skull base, such as sinonasal tumors or tumors affecting the anterior skull base.
Reconstructive Surgery: Following tumor removal, reconstructive surgery may be performed to restore function and a patient’s natural appearance. These surgeries can involve the use of local tissue flaps, regional flaps, or microvascular-free tissue transfer.

Request an Appointment

Same and next day appointments available